Asian Cultures and Food Festival Saturday at Cedars Club

As part of its continuing quest to build a Chinese Garden in Birmingham, the Alabama Asian Cultures Foundation will hold its fourth annual Asian Cultures and Food Festival.

On Saturday from 10:30 a.m. to 4 p.m., visitors can sample Asian cuisine, purchase silk items, books, plants and toys, witness traditional dance, participate in martial arts, see a fashion show and celebrate the Chinese Year of the Rabbit.

For kids, there will be a kite design workshop and a friendly dragon moon walk. Susan Hamm, the reigning Miss Birmingham, will be the hostess and will cut the opening ribbon at 10:30 a.m.

Other participants include the Indian dance companies Natyananda and Notinee, the Jasmine Dance Ensemble and martial artist Swami Kaal Nath. Tables will be set up to sample Asian cuisine -- prepared plates for $7, a la carte items for $2 each. Food service will be available from 11:30 a.m. to 3 p.m.

The festival will be held at the Cedars Club, 301 Green Springs Ave. South, two blocks east of the Green Spring Ave. exit at I-65. Admission is $5 for adults and teens, free for children 12 and under. For more information, call 903-5569 or go to www.alabamaasiancultures.org.

Michael Huebner is classical music and dance critic and fine arts writer for The Birmingham News. Email him at mhuebner@bhamnews.com.